A fresh storm of controversy has erupted in the political arena as Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has called for an anti-terror investigation into allegations that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal received political funding from the banned organization Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), founded by wanted terrorist Gurpatwant Pannun.
The allegations, emerging amidst an already intense and longstanding rivalry between Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the center, come at a critical juncture - less than three weeks before the national capital heads to the polls in the general election. It's worth noting that in the 2019 elections, the BJP swept all seven seats in Delhi.
In a meticulously detailed letter addressed to the Union Home Secretary, Saxena referenced a video, purportedly enclosed with the correspondence, wherein Pannun alleges that the AAP received a staggering $16 million in funding from Khalistani groups. The LG's letter further highlighted accusations that Kejriwal promised to facilitate the release of Devender Pal Bhullar in exchange for substantial financial support from Khalistani factions to the AAP. These assertions were reportedly based on a complaint filed by a Hindu religious body and tweets from a former AAP member.
Additionally, it was alleged that Kejriwal received funds to advocate pro-Khalistani sentiments, further deepening the controversy surrounding the AAP leader. Bhullar, a former professor, was convicted in connection with the 1993 Delhi bomb blasts case and was initially sentenced to death in 2001, a sentence later commuted to life imprisonment.
Kejriwal is already embroiled in legal troubles, currently incarcerated over corruption charges related to the alleged Delhi liquor policy scam, which is under investigation by both the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation. However, Kejriwal and the AAP have vehemently denied all allegations, dismissing them as politically motivated attacks orchestrated by the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
In response to the explosive allegations and the call for an anti-terror probe, the AAP swiftly retaliated, with senior leader Saurabh Bhardwaj labeling the move as yet another BJP-backed conspiracy against the party and its leader. Bhardwaj slammed the LG, accusing him of acting as an agent of the BJP and orchestrating a vendetta against Chief Minister Kejriwal. He characterized the LG's actions as part of a larger plot to discredit and destabilize the AAP government.
The latest escalation in the AAP-BJP feud underscores the heightened political tensions prevailing in the nation's capital, with each side trading accusations and engaging in a battle for supremacy ahead of the crucial elections. As the controversy rages on, it remains to be seen how the investigation will unfold and what impact it will have on the political landscape of Delhi.